LAHORE - Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Kh Salman Rafiq has said the government was focusing on providing health treatment facilities to the patients at their doorsteps. Addressing sixth convocation of Postgraduate Medical Institute (PGMI) at a local hotel on Monday, he said that nurses were important pillar of healthcare system and government was upgrading nursing schools into colleges and revising curriculum.

Vice Chancellor University of Health Sciences Maj Gen (R) Dr Muhammad Aslam, Principal PGMI Prof Anjum Habib Vohra, Chairman Board of Management Zia-ud-Din Butt, faculty members, retired and in-service principals of different medical colleges, superintendents of the hospitals, students and their parents were present on this occasion. Kh Salman Rafiq said that steps taken for upgradation of healthcare system were unprecedented. He said that government has provided a solid base for the development of primary and secondary healthcare. He said that reforms have been introduced at BHUs, THQs and DHQs hospitals through Chief Minister Health Roadmap. He said that special pay package has been offered to the specialized doctors for posting at THQs and DHQs hospitals. He said that these specialists would get upto Rs 1.5 lakh additional allowance during their posting in the said hospitals.

He lauded the services of Prof Anjum Habib Vohra as principal PGMI. He said that PGMI was providing opportunities to the doctors for research in different fields of medical sciences besides fulfilling the requirement of specialist doctors in the country. He said that Health Department was taking necessary steps to complete institute of neuro sciences at Lahore General Hospital.

Earlier, Maj Gen (R) Dr Muhammad Aslam said that high positions could not be obtained through charity but it needed vigorous efforts and hard work. He said that the medical ethics in developed countries were changing and a paradigm shifting was in process. Today focus was not only on the rights of doctors but there was also awareness of rights of patients. He asked the degree holders that their new journey has been started from today and their curiosity and research should be continued for the welfare of humanity. He emphasized the importance of role of nurses and paramedics in patients care and demanded the government to pay attention to their welfare.

Prof Anjum Habib Vohra said that PGMI was offering 34 degree and 12 diploma courses. He said that PGMI was not only fulfilling the needs of young doctors in Punjab but also providing specialist doctors to Sindh, KPK, Balochistan, Islamabad, FATA, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. He said that students of different countries like Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and Afghanistan were getting benefit from the teaching and research facilities of PGMI.